Palmer nursing sore thumb, McFadden ready to give it a go

Quarterback Carson Palmer was limited in practice today as a result of sore right thumb. This came as a bit of a surprise, given Palmer practiced full tilt the day before.
Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp said Palmer hurt his thumb against the Bengals last Sunday. Even so, he is “100 percent confident” that Palmer will be ready to play this Sunday against the Browns.
Coach Dennis Allen didn’t sound as certain.
“He took all his reps (Wednesday),” Allen said. “Today, his thumb was a little sore. We limited his reps. He’s another one we’ll have to see as we go through the remainder of the week where he’s at.”
If Palmer can’t play or if he gets injured in the game, it will be Matt Leinart who takes over and not second-year player Terrelle Pryor, who is expected to be on the active roster for the first time in 12 games this season.
Leinart said he is eager to make his Raiders debut and play for the first time since he suffered a broken left collarbone. He received all the reps with the first-team offense Thursday.
“I’m super competitive and want to get on the field any way I can,” Leinart said. “I just love the game. So, with that being said, I just got to keep preparing, just keep studying like I have been because I’m still one play away from being in there. But, yeah, everyone wants to play, everyone wants to get on the field. That’s all I can really do is just control the way I work and prepare.”
Leinart is signed through the end of this season. He sounded like a guy that wouldn’t mind coming back to the Raiders.
“It’s awesome because there’s so much tradition here, there’s so many great players that have played here,” Leinart said. “Growing up, I was a Raiders fan, so it was silver and black, my family grew up being Raider fans. … It’s been an honor to play for the Raiders. I don’t know what’s going to happen next year but I love playing for this team.”
Leinart said fans need to be patient with what the Raiders are going through. He likes what he sees in Allen and general manger Reggie McKenzie and feels as if better times are coming.
“It’s a building process, step by step,” Leinart said. “I really think that it’s going to be a special place to be. When? You never know. You just keep building and building. But he’s got the right message for us, coach Allen. Guys have bought in, guys are working hard, guys are playing hard. We’re not getting the results on Sunday, but it’s a process.”

— Running backs Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson were limited in practice today for the second straight day.
Given they are returning from high-ankle sprains that forced them to miss the past three games, Knapp said he expects regular fullback Marcel Reece to be used primarily as a halfback Sunday against the Browns.
Knapp said it’s likely that McFadden and Goodson will need more time to get back into football shape. Therefore, if they play, they will be eased back in to the mix.
“There’s still a little work I have to do,” McFadden said. “But for the most part, I’m getting back to being me.”
McFadden said he isn’t sure what to expect once he gets back on the field.
“The only thing I can do is go out there and play football,” McFadden said. “I don’t know how it’s going to be. I’m just going to go out there and do what I do every down and play ball.”

— Raiders middle linebacker Rolando McClain and Browns rookie running back Trent Richardson were teammates at Alabama for one season.
Richardson said he is looking forward to seeing McClain again. Well, that’s not apt to happen now in light of McClain being excused from practice Wednesday and told not to show up for practice Thursday by coach Dennis Allen.
Therefore, the primary task Sunday of trying to slow down Richardson in the run game falls to McClain’s replacement, Omar Gaither. Richardson has rushed for 755 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games for the Browns.
Richardson said he grew up idolizing Raiders running back Darren McFadden and later idolized McClain after watching him play at Alabama.
“From what I see and from what I’ve been told, the Raiders have a good team, especially Rolando McClain,” Richardson said in a conference call with Bay Area media. “Obviously, I look up to him a lot. He was a captain for me at Alabama when I was a freshman. He was one of my idols I looked up to as a leader on the team.”
Richardson added that McClain has had a “good impact” in his three NFL seasons. It’s worth noting that coach Allen replaced McClain in the nickel package in favor of rookie Miles Burris earlier this season.
“A lot of people sleep on Rolando because I don’t think they give him (as) much media as Oakland should,” Richardson said. “At Alabama, he got a lot of media and stuff. He has had a good impact. Will it be more? Yes, it will be because that’s Rolando.
“I know how Rolando trains and how Rolando prepares for the games. But how I see it, it’s not all about Rolando. He has to get a lot more help. He has to get a lot more help from the defensive (standpoint) for him to be a good, successful player, and for the whole team to stand up.”
If so, it likely won’t be for the Raiders.

— When the Browns lost to the Raiders at the Coliseum last season it kicked off a losing skid away from Browns Stadium that stands at 12 games and counting. The Browns are 0-5 on the road so far this season.
When asked for a common theme in those losses, Browns coach Pat Shurmur said:
“Yeah, we’ve slept the night before in a hotel.”
He then added:
“I don’t know. The theme for me as this year has gone on is, we haven’t really been able to finish a game. Each game is a different story. We were behind in some and came back and went ahead and then lost. We were ahead and let them come back.
“The big thing for us is prepare yourself for the road venue whatever it is, crowd noise or what not, and then go play the game. If you overthink that … We lost a few games at home, too. If you overthink that, then now you start to build in you play differently if you play at 1 o’clock then 4 o’clock. That’s just not the way I want to do it.”
The Raiders aren’t much better. They are 1-5 on the road this season and they have lost their past nine games played in the Eastern Time Zone.

— Former Cal offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz has started all 11 games at offensive tackle for the Browns. He was their second-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft.
“He’s done a nice job for us,” Shurmur said. “He’s kind of established himself as a guy, he doesn’t say much but he goes out and he battles. Even our older players will tell you, he’s one of the most studious and the smartest of our guys up front. He’s making good progress. If he stays on track here, he has a chance to be a good player in this league for a long time.”

— McFadden went down with a high-ankle sprain after 170 touches in eight games this season. Richardson is still going strong after 250 rushes and receptions through 11 games.
He said he hasn’t hit the so-called wall that typically undoes many rookies accustomed to playing 12 or 13 games in college.
Richardson said he can handle whatever workload the Browns throw his way.
“Oh, yeah, I’m comfortable with it,” Richardson said. “That’s what they brought me here for, why they traded up for me. That’s what I train hard for. That’s one thing I do. I train hard, so I can get prepared every week for 22 carries or more. Whatever they have in store for me, I’m here for it.”

— The Browns have been in almost every game this season. Like the Raiders, they are struggling to find a way to win the close games.
Richardson came from an Alabama program that won most, if not all, of its game on an annual basis. He said he knows the key to winning games.
“Oh, yeah, you got to start fast, man, you got to finish strong,” Richardson said. “That’s something that coach (Nick) Saban always stressed, finish strong. Being in more condition, being more disciplined. That goes along with it. You got to man up and be more disciplined than the other team and make sure you do everything you can to make the play.”
So, there you have it. The cat is out of the bag.

— The Raiders-Browns game failed to sell enough tickets — at least 85 percent — to avoid a blackout locally. That snapped the string of consecutive games televised locally at 13, dating to the start of the 2011 season.
Allen said it’s incumbent upon the Raiders to play better, win more games and give the fans reason to attend games.
“I’m disappointed in that,” Allen said, “but the only way we can change that is to go out and try to get a win against Cleveland and then hopefully we won’t have to worry about that at any time in the future.”

But even his coaching couldn’t help the Steelers stop the Greg-Knapp Raider offense in that loss here in Oakland.

Priesttj12

dr_robert Says:
November 29th, 2012 at 10:58 pm
i never said development doesn’t take place. but it doesn’t take place with under-talented, un-caring pieces of sh!t like mcclain.
*********************************
Nick Saban got a lot out this same player. I wonder if he wnet to Dick Labeau what he would be. I bet he would be much better.

dr_robert

Priesttj12 Says:
November 29th, 2012 at 10:58 pm
Son drafting well is only half the battle…….this is what you just don’t get. These players aren’t great when they get them they help them reach their potential through coaching them up. Lebeau has been there for years because he is a great teacher. he gets the best out of the talent they draft.

Player development is HUGE or else you’ll see very talented players become BUST and everyone will wonder why. It’s called a lack of player development. They don’t recieve the coaching necessary to succeed in many cases. They go elsewhere and make it. Ask any pro-player if coaching doesn’t matter. They’ll laugh at you because it affects them dramatically.
**************

i don’t get it? i think players come in automatically great, end of story? preposterous. i told u how it works. they come in with supposed talent. first of all, sometimes they were overrated. this applies to mccalin right away. then the coaches coach them. if the player applies himself and can learn it, his natural ability will emerge. and he will thrive. that’s development. in mcclain’s case, he was not as talented as we thought. and he was apparently not very good at understanding what was taught. also, he he clearly lacked desire. his effort was horrendous.

btw, did lebeau ever miss? ever cut a hi rounder? they all miss.

dr_robert

Jackasspuria Says:
November 29th, 2012 at 10:59 pm
Like one football coach told me:
“You can’t coach stupid.” — that would be Rolando McClain.
***********

Priesttj12 Says:
November 29th, 2012 at 11:01 pm
dr_robert Says:
November 29th, 2012 at 10:58 pm
i never said development doesn’t take place. but it doesn’t take place with under-talented, un-caring pieces of sh!t like mcclain.
*********************************
Nick Saban got a lot out this same player. I wonder if he wnet to Dick Labeau what he would be. I bet he would be much better.
*****************

that’s college! his size and strength were all he needed. he probably even seemed quick there. the nfl is littered with the carcasses of ‘big-time” college players who couldn’t cut it in the nfl. the dude just plain sucks, priest. the fact u can’t see it speaks volumes about ur credibility.

dr_robert

brian bosworth > mcclain.

Priesttj12

Every player wont take to even great coaching. That is NOT what we are seeing here this team has regreessed in every aspect of the game. That is NOT just players it has a lot to do with the handling of players and getting those players to respond to the coaching. At this level you have to sell these guys on your plan if you don’t they will NOT respond.

If they see inconsistencies in what you preach they will tune you out……..in a hurry.

Priesttj12

McClain isn’t the only player NOT responding to these coaches you keep harping ion him but I see the same thing from half the players on this TEAM.

dr_robert

Priesttj12 Says:
November 29th, 2012 at 11:10 pm
Every player wont take to even great coaching. That is NOT what we are seeing here this team has regreessed in every aspect of the game. That is NOT just players it has a lot to do with the handling of players and getting those players to respond to the coaching. At this level you have to sell these guys on your plan if you don’t they will NOT respond.

If they see inconsistencies in what you preach they will tune you out……..in a hurry.
***********

first of all, bullsh!t. u don’t cottle a little diva who wants to be treated a certain way. get the f@ck outta here! this is football. play hard and get after it. period.

i didn’t say the staff was good and i didn’t say the talent was good.

mcclain has demonstrated an obscene lack of instincts. he is slow to react and doesn’t even seem to be trying. in ur view, it was all the coaches fault regarding jamarcus, cuz they didn’t get him to tune in. that idiot sucked. and so does mcclain.

Priesttj12

How many times do we have to say the entire team has regressed that is NOT just the players………it says a lot about the coaches too.

dr_robert

Priesttj12 Says:
November 29th, 2012 at 11:12 pm
McClain isn’t the only player NOT responding to these coaches you keep harping ion him but I see the same thing from half the players on this TEAM.
*****************

that’s cuz we have a lot of subpar players. we’re a bad team. there’s a lot wrong. half the team should be cut. and another half of the half we keep should be replaced soon.

Priesttj12

I’m done fellas adios!!

dr_robert

the team has regressed. i’m not impressed with the staff at all. but i think this team has had a combination of things go wrong that has caused it. and i think it needs to be gutted. keep the parts that are good, but clean house.

The Mack

DA has come in and turned the raiders into the mud dogs without the waterboy. Lmao remember how sorry that team was without the waterboy?(if you’ve seen the movie)

dr_robert

how many good o-linemen do we have?

who is the pass rusher the coaches haven’t “developed”?

who’s responsible for mcclain’s horrendous lack of hustle?

let’s be realistic. the coaches haven’t impressed. but does this team have the parts in place to win?

raiderzmaverick

Dr Robert. They have the parts to win at least 8 games and that was with our starting QB coming off the couch.

raiderzmaverick

Priesttj12 Says:
November 29th, 2012 at 11:14 pm
How many times do we have to say the entire team has regressed that is NOT just the players………it says a lot about the coaches too.
—-
Exactly, when the entire team regresses it is on the coaches. Just like when the team dramatically improves. Look at SFO and the one year change when they hires their HC

dr_robert

i was mainly talking about priest’s ridiculous claim that mcclain’s suckness had to do with the staff.

i have said i’m not impressed with the staff.

but some things have happened since last year.

dmc is not the same. his absence helped lead to a 1-4 finish last year and he looked horrible this year.

wiz moved to center. it was a mistake.

seymour’s gimpiness has deteriorated his play and the whole line has suffered as a result.

i still think the team should be better, but mcclain is horrible.

dr_robert

i will tell u this: if they end up trying to bring mcclain back, this team is done. no balls.

shutdown

The_Judge37 Says:
November 29th, 2012 at 4:15 pm
I said it long ago this is Rolando’s and every player in defenses 3rd scheme in 3 years. And you guys want a well disciplined scheme well keep wishing. It takes years not months half that defenses was turned over. Yet they want Rolando to take all the blame. That kid is 23 y/o and 3 NFL systems since his rookie year. His freaking head is on a swivel. He doesn’t knwo the players around him a trust the system at a high level.

No ONE takes any of this into consideration for him just BLAME him. It aint fair but it is what it is, if i were him I would be begging to get the hell
______________________________________________________

“it aint [sic] fair…”

You don’t expect anyone not to the far left the Bell Curve to take you seriously, now do you?

shutdown

It’s a ludicrous argument that Rolando McClain’s behavior is somehow indicative of a mutinous attitude on the team.

* Cochran has told us just this last week, when he was directly asked, if he has seen any signs that the coach has lost the team. He responded with, “Trust me when I say I have seen coaches who have lost the locker room. That is not the case here.”

* McClain is a crazy or have you forgotten that he pulled a gun on a man when neither he himself nor anyone else was in danger and for all we know was a split second from placing a bullet in his temporal lobe?

*Do you recall that a former coach, one Hue Jackson, gave permission to McClain to fly home and attend a funeral, and a few hours later Mr. McClain pulled his gun and his grin? Would you argue that Mr. McClain’s behavior that day was an indication that Mr. Jackson had lost the locker room, that Mr. McClain’s behavior that day was an illustrative of a larger “mutinous attitude” that existed on the team?

Get off it.

dr_robert

mcclain’s aim with his gun is as accurate as his aim on the field. he misses a LOT.

raiderzmaverick

Dr_robert Says:
November 29th, 2012 at 11:29 pm
i was mainly talking about priest’s ridiculous claim that mcclain’s suckness had to do with the staff.

i have said i’m not impressed with the staff.

but some things have happened since last year.

dmc is not the same. his absence helped lead to a 1-4 finish last year and he looked horrible this year.

wiz moved to center. it was a mistake.

seymour’s gimpiness has deteriorated his play and the whole line has suffered as a result.

i still think the team should be better, but mcclain is horrible.
————-
I beg to differ. I think DMAC is the same. He’s just not in the same position to show it.
Just like up until 3 games ago Reese was the same as last year, but somehow couldn’t fit in or connect up with Palmer.
I think DHB is the same, but isn’t put in the same position as last year. We’ve all seen what our players strengths are and when put in the right position are playmakers. Especially on offense. That’s not really there this year for most of them.

wiz looked better and so did every other lineman last year.

The Dline looked a hello a lot better last year.

ENGLANDRAIDER

“Any football player who has pushed two administrations to the brink of despair absolutely needs a change of scenery, along with an injection of maturity.”

That’s from the Monte Poole article and it about sums up the McClain situation.

Suspend the fuk’n moron to some money back and/or waive him.

ENGLANDRAIDER

ENGLANDRAIDER Says:
November 30th, 2012 at 2:46 am
Seymour Bush Says:
November 29th, 2012 at 3:14 pm
As I posted earlier the Raiders may very well be pulling a Lance Kiffin or Mike Vick and trying to get some of their money back. It now seems painfully apparent that McClain was PURPOSEFULLY doing nothing out there and being insubordinate. I don’t know if he is going to another NFL team any time soon.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

What a pile of bull crap!
No coach should put put up with this stuff. McClain goes on Facebook to whine about the team?!
Suspend him at a cost of $970,000 a day to MCCLAIN!
And then waive him!

dr_robert

i find it hard to believe any raider fan could still support this punk.

Derek

Raiding Teexas either you’re a pathetic liar or you have some sorry lying sources.

McClain or anyother NFL player would back down from or fear Denise Allen. If there was a NFL player weak enough to fear DA, they player would have no business playing football. A blind man can see Denise Allen is a pencil necked wimp who couldn’t fight his way out of a wet paperbag loaded with holes.

RaiderRockstar

Palmer is 9-3 against the Browns all-time, with 25 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and a 90.6 passer rating.

***

Palmer was a Ravens killer before we faced them this season too. Plus he was supposed primed & ready for a big FU game to the Cincy owner when we faced the Bungles

I dont make much of this comment above by Steve and I’d rather see Pryor start some games with a fair shot at winning, rather than throwing him in there when we’re getting blown out in the 4th qtr and teams know we have to pass so they blitz every down and tee off on the QB – especially with this awful O-Line!!

that isn’t setting Terrelle up for success

RaiderRockstar

so Trent Richardson is pretty high on McClain, eh?

I would trade McClain, Kelly & Branch to Cleveland right now in exchange for NT Phil Taylor (2nd year pro outta Baylor)

RaiderRockstar

I’d follow that up with a trade offer of Jacoby Ford, Mike Brisiel & Michael Huff in exchange for MLB D’Qwell Jackson …

jesusraiderjim

that isn’t setting Terrelle up for success

————————————
Utilizing players talents and setting them up for success is not this managements strong suit.

I agree this would be the game or KC to get the kid some meaningful reps.

jesusraiderjim

Rock

Your “Blue Light Special” trades are solid. I am with you.

I hope we get some value for our rejects, i am afraid we are gonna be stuck with a lot of our deadweight

RaiderRockstar

GM Reggie is a former Raider LB … I told you guys that he wouldn’t settle for less with LB’s on the roster

his standards or expectations for them will be much higher than any other position

the starters he inherited were Wimbley, Curry & McClain

where are they now??

Our LB’s next season are gonna kick some @$$

dr_robert

RaiderRockstar Says:
November 30th, 2012 at 4:10 am
Palmer is 9-3 against the Browns all-time, with 25 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and a 90.6 passer rating.

***

Palmer was a Ravens killer before we faced them this season too. Plus he was supposed primed & ready for a big FU game to the Cincy owner when we faced the Bungles

I dont make much of this comment above by Steve and I’d rather see Pryor start some games with a fair shot at winning, rather than throwing him in there when we’re getting blown out in the 4th qtr and teams know we have to pass so they blitz every down and tee off on the QB – especially with this awful O-Line!!

that isn’t setting Terrelle up for success
**************

uh, that’s because the actual raiders (not this board) aren’t concerned with pryor at the moment. setting him up for success isn’t even in the cards right now.

dr_robert

i will be surprised if pryor ends the year with more than 20 pass attempts, which would come in the last couple games, if that.

not that i’m not for him. it’s just reality.

RaiderRockstar

Your “Blue Light Special” trades are solid. I am with you.

***

LOL!!

thanks JRJ. the turd purge began the day BigMac was hired and it’s a 2 or 3 year process

I think think we’ll be stuck with too many “out of whack” contracts when we’re heading in Reg Season week 1 next year

Reggie is gonna wheel & deal, then cut ties with the slackers & check cashers. Can’t blame him for giving some of these guys a chance under different management in hopes of better results. It just hasn’t happened

RaiderRockstar

i will be surprised if pryor ends the year with more than 20 pass attempts

***

you’re probably right Dr Bob, but I hope the Raiders are smarter than that. Hopefully they prove us wrong and make some effort to develop a young player, especially a QB!!

RaiderRockstar

#588 correction

I think think = I don’t think

RaiderRockstar

72 year old Monte Kiffin wants back in the NFL

anybody want to give him DA’s job and draft that Barkley kid??

I’m all for shipping Palmer & McFadden off to the highest bidder and then trading up a few spots in the draft

Raiders For Life Says:
November 30th, 2012 at 6:05 am
Is there any chance that this is a wake up call for McClain and Reg and DA get him straightened out?
—–
I think this is actually very fortunate for the Raiders. He’s due to get a big pay raise next year. If they can get rid of him without having to pay that salary that will be great.